Paediatric Chiropractic London
Award winning Paediatric Chiropractic clinics, helping treat & strengthen the body. Canada Water, near Rotherhithe, Deptford SE8 & Stratford E15, near Olympic Village E20
At Bodytonic Clinic, we understand the importance of providing gentle and specialised care for the youngest members of your family. Our paediatric chiropractic services are designed to support the musculoskeletal health of babies, children, and teenagers in a safe and welcoming environment.
Paediatric chiropractic is a branch of chiropractic that focuses on the gentle, age-appropriate assessment and treatment of a child’s musculoskeletal system. This includes their spine, joints, and muscles, all of which undergo rapid changes during growth and development. Our practitioners use light, non-invasive techniques tailored to each child’s unique needs, ensuring their comfort and safety at all times.
Paediatric Chiropractic Prices
Not sure which treatment is right for you? Speak to our clinical triage team first with a free 15-minute phone consultation. We’ll assess your needs and guide you toward the right specialist before you book. Book a Free Phone Call →
What to expect during a Paediatric Chiropractic initial consultation
On your child’s first visit, their paediatric chiropractor will listen carefully to your concerns and take a detailed health history. We’ll ask about your pregnancy, the birth, and your child’s general well-being to get a full picture of their health.
After our chat, your practitioner will gently examine your child. Depending on their age, we’ll assess their spinal and joint movements, muscle tone, reflexes, developmental milestones and any areas of tightness. We’ll then discuss our findings with you, explain the recommended treatment plan, and estimate how many sessions might be needed. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have.
If treatment is appropriate, your practitioner can start right away using very gentle techniques to help your child feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible.
The techniques that will be used depend on the age of your child. The younger your child is, the gentler the approach will be.
Techniques used in paediatric chiropractic:
Touch and Hold
A light pressure on tender or restricted areas, with an additional slight turn or movement, with the aim to increase movement and reduce tension. For example, this technique is especially useful if your baby has a head preference to one side.
Touch and Turn
A light pressure on tender or restricted areas, with an additional slight turn of the head, with the aim to increase movement in the neck. This technique is especially useful if your baby has a head preference to one side.
Tummy Time Exercises
An exercise that is advised by midwives, GPs, osteopaths and chiropractors for all babies and infants that are working their way up to sitting, crawling and walking skills.
This exercise is brilliant for neck and back strengthening, and your baby’s motor control of movements. Your chiropractor will go through this with you in the sessions, to ensure proper muscular engagement and any obstacles your child may face in achieving this.
Gentle Mobilisation and Adjustments
Aimed to improve your child’s range of movement and function, joint mobilisation in their limited ranges may be chosen for children between the ages of 3-18. This treatment is primarily used in cases of less joint mobility, joint and muscle pain, and muscle stiffness. Pressure applied through the joint will only be increased to match their structural development so that the body works well together with the treatment being used. This is because their bones and other structures are still developing up to the age of 18.
Soft Tissue Work and Muscular Stretching
Gentle massage and muscular stretching may be used to relieve tension and improve range of motion.
Exercise Coaching and Advice for Parents/Carers
At Bodytonic Clinic, we want to make sure that you leave your first appointment with confidence in how you can navigate your child’s journey too. This will include advice on:
- Safe sleep and positioning
- Feeding positions
- How to optimise tummy time
- Exercises that will help your child to learn movement patterns needed for developmental skills like crawling and walking
- Fun and engaging exercise rehabilitation for children over the age of 3
- Internal or external referrals to other relevant services if needed
Meet Our GCC Registered Paediatric Chiropractors
For maximum safety and clinical confidence, all Paediatric Chiropractic services are delivered by our GCC Registered Chiropractors who focus on gentle, age-appropriate assessment and techniques. They apply their regulated clinical expertise to support the musculoskeletal health of children and young people.
View the full Chiropractic team list here to see all qualified professionals and their full bios.
Paediatric Chiropractic
Chiropractic care is primarily focused on the musculoskeletal and nervous system. A chiropractor uses a holistic combination of techniques to alleviate tension, aiming to improve function and support the body’s natural healing process. For babies, it is often known to be used for issues related to the tongue, jaw, spine, neck, hips and feet. Similarly, for babies and children over the age of 1, it is used for relieving musculoskeletal tension in any area of the body and helping nervous system regulation.
Frequently Asked Question
Choosing the right therapy for your child can feel overwhelming. While each approach is valuable, they all have a different focus. Here is a quick guide to help you understand the main differences.
Paediatric Osteopathy
Osteopathy is a holistic therapy that sees the body as one interconnected unit. An osteopath uses gentle, hands-on techniques to improve the function of your child’s muscles, joints, and ligaments. This can help with a wide range of issues, from feeding difficulties to mobility problems, by looking at the whole body.
Paediatric Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is focused on movement and rehabilitation. A physiotherapist uses exercise, play, and hands-on methods to help children improve their strength, balance, and coordination. It’s often recommended for developmental delays, neurological conditions, or recovering from injuries.
Paediatric Chiropractic
Chiropractic care is a holistic approach that helps parents to understand and treat their child’s musculoskeletal and nervous system. Your paediatric chiropractor uses gentle adjustments to alleviate tension throughout the body, while aiming to improve nervous system function and support the body’s natural healing process. It is often used for issues related to the spine or neck, but can be helpful in other areas such as poor latching during breastfeeding, directional head preference and overall tension. Your chiropractor will also recommend exercises that you can do from home.
Cranial Osteopathy
Cranial Osteopathy is not a separate therapy but a specialised technique used by some osteopaths. It uses a very light touch to address subtle tension in the head and sacrum, and is often included as part of a wider osteopathic treatment plan.
In short, while all these therapies are gentle and helpful, their main focus differs:
- Osteopathy looks at the whole body.
- Physiotherapy uses movement to improve function.
- Chiropractic focuses on the musculoskeletal and nervous system to improve overall function.
- Cranial Osteopathy is a specific, subtle touch technique used in osteopathy.
If you are still unsure which therapy is best for your child, please contact us. We are happy to help you find the most suitable care.
